Is Zapdos viable in Gen 8 OU?

Zapdos is ranked #11 in Gen 8 OU with 18.57% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Zapdos in Gen 8 OU?

The best counter for Zapdos in Gen 8 OU is Weavile with a 84.3% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Zapdos include Weavile, Tapu Lele, Tyranitar, Dragapult, Slowking-Galar.

What is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 8 OU?

Weavile is the best counter for Zapdos in Gen 8 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 84.3% of their encounters.

Zapdos counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0145 Zapdos

ElectricFlying

USAGE 18.6% #11

ABILITYStatic

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 90

DEF 85

SPA 125

SPD 90

SPE 100

BST580

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

IceRock

½×

GrassFightingFlyingBugSteel

0×

Ground

Moves

Hurricane 87.2% Volt Switch 84.8% Roost 80.0% Heat Wave 45.8% Defog 40.9% Thunderbolt 21.4% Toxic 12.7% Discharge 7.1%

Items

Heavy-Duty Boots 82.2% Choice Specs 15.3% Leftovers 1.2% Throat Spray 0.6% Life Orb 0.5% Rocky Helmet 0.1% Wise Glasses 0.0% Eject Button 0.0%

Abilities

Static91.6%Pressure8.4%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian47.4%

Ferrothorn33.0%

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike33.0%

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Weavile

DarkIce OFFENSIVE CHECK

48.815

84.3% dies 5.21%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Weavile Triple Axel (120 BP) (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 472-560 (122.9 - 145.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Weavile counters → Teams with Weavile →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

29.522

79.2% dies 7.47%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos in Psychic Terrain: 216-255 (56.2 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Tapu Lele counters → Teams with Tapu Lele →

Tyranitar

RockDark OFFENSIVE CHECK

21.624

75.0% dies 9.31%

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 422-498 (109.8 - 129.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Dragapult

DragonGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK

38.413

73.0% dies 7.16%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Choice Specs Dragapult Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 225-265 (58.5 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragapult counters → Teams with Dragapult →

Slowking-Galar

PoisonPsychic DEFENSIVE COUNTER

70.5% dies 9.28%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 87-103 (22 - 26.1%) -- 7.5% chance to 4HKO

View Slowking-Galar counters → Teams with Slowking-Galar →

Garchomp

DragonGround OFFENSIVE CHECK

88.337

68.8% dies 6.92%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Garchomp Scale Shot (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 156-189 (40.6 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

85.74

68.7% dies 6.84%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 139-165 (36.1 - 42.9%) -- 91% chance to 2HKO after trapping damage

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Tapu Koko

ElectricFairy OFFENSIVE CHECK

26.133

63.1% dies 9.44%

DAMAGE CALCElectric Terrain

Tapu Koko Nature's Madness vs. 252 HP Zapdos: 192-192 (50 - 50%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Tapu Koko counters → Teams with Tapu Koko →

Hippowdon

Ground DEFENSIVE COUNTER

81.149

60.9% dies 7.60%

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 169-201 (40.2 - 47.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Hippowdon counters → Teams with Hippowdon →

Dragonite

DragonFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK

21.402

57.4% dies 10.69%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Dragonite Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 212-250 (55.2 - 65.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragonite counters → Teams with Dragonite →

Gastrodon

WaterGround DEFENSIVE COUNTER

29.036

56.7% dies 9.19%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 157-186 (36.8 - 43.6%) -- 99.4% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Gastrodon counters → Teams with Gastrodon →

Zapdos

ElectricFlying SOFT CHECK

40.608

45.9% dies 7.82%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 121-144 (31.5 - 37.5%) -- 86.8% chance to 3HKO

View Zapdos counters → Teams with Zapdos →

Melmetal

Steel SOFT CHECK

68.751

45.6% dies 8.44%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Iron Fist Melmetal Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 266-314 (69.2 - 81.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Melmetal counters → Teams with Melmetal →

Clefable

Fairy SOFT CHECK

95.834

38.1% dies 6.79%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 106-126 (27.6 - 32.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater SOFT CHECK

33.831

31.8% dies 8.01%

DAMAGE CALC

252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zapdos on a critical hit: 354-417 (92.1 - 108.5%) -- 51.5% chance to OHKO

View Urshifu-Rapid-Strike counters → Teams with Urshifu-Rapid-Strike →